System and method for selecting photographic images using index prints

• US 6,549,306 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2001
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Morton, Roger R. A., Paciocco, Steven Bruce, Patton, David Lynn, Fredlund, John Randall
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Cheukfan
• Application Number:
  US09/969,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20020015183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 358/487, 358/506, 358/442, 358/468, 355/40, 396/319, 396/639, 396/97
• US Class Current: 358/487
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2206/00 Systems for exchange of information between different pieces of apparatus, e.g. for exchanging trimming information, for photo finishing
• CPC Class Codes: G03D 15/001 Counting; Classifying; Marking
• CPC Class Codes: G03D 15/003 Marking, e.g. for re-printing
• CPC Class Codes: G03D 15/005 Order systems, e.g. printsorter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00135 Scanning of a photographic original
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00145 from a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00148 Storage information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00164 at a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00167 Processing or editing H04N1/00196 - H04N1/00201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00249 with a photographic apparatus, e.g. a photographic printer or a projector photographic apparatus per se G03B, G03D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00962 Input arrangements for operating instructions or parameters, e.g. updating internal software program loading in general G06F9/445; network-specific protocols involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/217 Interfaces allowing access to a single user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2338 according to user specified instructions, e.g. user selection of reproduction mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2361 Selecting a particular reproducing device from amongst a plurality of devices, e.g. high or low resolution devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/00 Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/60 : using transform coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 : of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 : of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence

Abstract

A method for remotely selecting and ordering photographic prints, includes the steps of: sending a photographic film bearing a plurality of latent images to a photofinisher; developing the photographic film to produce visible images and scanning the visible images to create a digital image file at the photo finisher; producing an index print having a plurality of images from the photographic film along with an index number associated with each image and an order number; sending the index print to a customer; selecting images for which prints are desired from the index print; ordering photographic prints via telephone from the customer'"'"'s home to the photofinisher, specifying the order number and the index numbers associated with the images for which prints are desired; and making photographic prints of the selected images at the photofinisher and sending the photographic prints to the customer.

Claims

1. A method for remotely selecting photographic prints by a customer with respect to a plurality of digital images stored by a digital image center;

comprising the steps of;

a) storing a plurality of digital images at the digital image center;

b) producing an index having a visual representation of each of the plurality of stored digital images;

c) providing the index to the customer at a remote location from the digital image center;

d) facilitating electronically ordering of a photographic print over a communication network by said customer using said index at said remote location;

e) producing said photographic print using one of said stored digital images in response to said ordering; and

f) delivering said photographic print to said customer.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said electronic ordering is accomplished by entering said order using a device capable of providing electronic communication over said communication network.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said digital files are provided by scanning a roll of photographic film.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the images are scanned in a location remote from said digital image center.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said index comprises an index print.

6. A method for remotely selecting photographic prints by a customer with respect to a plurality of digital images stored by a digital image center;

comprising the steps of;

a) storing a plurality of digital images at the digital image center;

b) producing an index having a visual representation of each of the plurality of stored digital images;

c) providing the index to the customer at a remote location from the digital image center;

d) facilitating electronically ordering of a photographic print over a communication network by said customer using said index at said remote location;

e) producing said photographic print using one of said stored digital images in response to said ordering;

f) delivering said photographic print to said customer; and

g) billing said customer.

7. A method for remotely selecting photographic prints by a customer with respect to a plurality of digital images stored by a digital image center;

comprising the steps of;

a) storing a plurality of digital images at the digital image center;

b) producing an index having a visual representation of each of the plurality of stored digital images;

c) providing the index to the customer at a remote location from the digital image center;

d) facilitating electronically ordering of a photographic print over a communication network by said customer using said index at said remote location;

e) producing said photographic print using one of said stored digital images in response to said ordering;

f) delivering said photographic print to said customer; and

g) verifying the address and credit card of the customer ordering said print.